211 North Fairfax Street
Sue and Dave Wilkes
When this property came on the market, perhaps only someone like Sue or Dave Wilkes could see through the disrepair to the exceptional possibilities offered by this late 18th century fine-boned townhouse. Dave was so excited to tour the house, he made the appointment for 6:00 a.m., to which the realtor replied, “Bring your flashlight, there is no electricity.” The house was in foreclosure and had been vacant for about seven years.
Also, there was no water, except the long-standing water in the basement that rotted out the gas pipes, the cabinets, the drywall, the studs, and basically anything below one foot off the floor. The couple wondered, “What will happen when we pay the water bill: would water spurt out in all directions?” The water appliances had been shut off for years. In March 2019, the couple moved in and began two years of heavy restoration, followed by the last three years of “slow, relaxed work.” Every residence the Wilkes have owned except one needed work, so they had developed the know-how to revive a house.
The “wow” is how the couple transformed the first-floor living space (with a graceful arch) and performed a similar feat with the delightful rabbit’s warren of intimate and atmospheric spaces in the basement for their enjoyment, and that of their reveling friends.
Purchased in 1793 by Jonah Thompson, tax records suggest a bump up in the value of this property, circa 1796-1813, probably due to Thompson “marrying” the front house with a subsequently-built loggia house in back. Thompson (1756 -1834) was a prosperous shipper, a Bank of Alexandria president, large property owner and Alexandria mayor (1805-1808).
The personality of the Wilkes runs through their home. The two lower levels, reclaimed from a shambles, now shine as spaces for entertaining. The couple’s long-serving furnishings and salvaged fixtures reflect their practical approach to living. And the purchase of this then-foreclosed property reveals the couple’s adventurous spirit and appreciation of a damsel in distress.